00
Photograph
byHugo
Brehme
SEAT OF MEXICO'S GOVERNMENT, THE NATIONAL PALACE OCCUPIES PART OF THE SITE OF MONTEZUMA'S
HUGE,
RAMBLING
RESIDENCE
Cortez here appropriated one of the Aztec ruler's palaces and built his own headquarters, portions of which still exist.
The
structure
has
been
frequently
altered;
its
upper floor was not added until 1927. Here ruled Spain's viceroys, the spectacular native emperor Agustin de Iturbide,the
ill-fated
Maximilian,
and
successive
Presidents
of the Republic. Above the central doorway is the Mexican Liberty Bell, rung by the priest Hidalgo at Dolores in 1810tosummon
patriots
tofight
for
independence
from
Spain. Annually on September 15, in this wide square called the Z6calo (page 724), Mexico's President leads throngswho
shout
asHidalgo
did
after
he
sounded
the
bell.